Sales Manager - Pet Nutrition
Sales Manager - Pet Nutrition
Company Overview
We are a rapidly growing, vertically integrated food and ingredient manufacturer serving the pet nutrition and functional foods markets. The company operates advanced manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, including state-of-the-art retort packaging technology, supported by robust R&D and ingredient capabilities.
Position Overview
We are seeking a Sales Manager to lead revenue growth within our pet co-manufacturing business. This senior individual contributor role owns the full commercial lifecycle-from prospecting and deal closure through onboarding, commercialization, and account expansion.
The Sales Manager partners cross-functionally with R&D, Operations, Quality, Finance, and Supply Chain to convert opportunities into long-term, profitable manufacturing partnerships. This is a field-based role with significant customer and industry engagement.
Key Responsibilities
Sales & Revenue Growth
- Own and deliver annual sales targets aligned with strategic growth objectives
- Develop and execute a disciplined sales plan, including pipeline management and forecasting
- Drive new business through outbound prospecting, networking, and targeted account development
- Manage the full sales cycle from lead qualification through contract negotiation and launch
Customer Onboarding & Expansion
- Lead onboarding of new customers and coordinate internal handoffs
- Guide customers through formulation development, trials, scale-up, and initial production
- Grow existing accounts through additional SKUs, formats, and volume commitments
- Serve as the primary commercial owner of customer relationships
Co-Manufacturing & Strategic Selling
- Sell integrated co-manufacturing capabilities, including formulation, processing, quality, and scalable capacity
- Structure deals that balance customer needs with long-term profitability and capacity utilization
- Align customer demand with operational planning and future growth investments
Planning & Market Insight
- Maintain accurate forecasts, pipeline reporting, and CRM discipline
- Provide insights on pet nutrition trends, competitive dynamics, and customer needs
- Represent the company at trade shows and key customer engagements
Qualifications
- Experience: 10+ years of direct sales experience in the pet industry with a strong growth track record
- Industry Expertise: Deep knowledge of pet food manufacturing, national brands, and private label
- Skills: Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills; CRM and financial acumen
- Attributes: Self-starter, relationship builder, strategic thinker, and operationally savvy
If you have extensive experience in the pet food space, this opportunity is for you!
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your CV so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
Yes, we help with CV and interview preparation. From customised support on how to optimise your resume to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.